National Endowment for the Humanities
Analyzing “Intercepted Intelligence”
A good diplomat needs to know how world events can affect their country. First, class members examine the Papal Bull that excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I from the Roman Catholic Church. Then, learners playing the role of diplomat from...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Writing a Diplomatic Toast
Here's to you! Using a role-playing activity and primary source analysis, learners discover the importance of diplomacy. Impersonating a diplomat from a great empire, they write a toast to another empire, analyzing the strengths and...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Hosting a Diplomatic Reception
The toasts are written, the table is set: it's time to party! Young scholars use a role-playing activity to go toast to toast. After researching and writing toasts for their allied countries during the modern Age of Empires, individuals...
Curated OER
'European Exploration, Conquest, and Trade
Fifth graders examine the motives, progress and results of the European exploration and conquest of Asia, Africa and the West Indies from the 15th to the 17th centuries. They use maps to trace spice routes and research the role of spices...
Curated OER
Globalization and Health
Students explore the threat of global health issues. In this globalization lesson, students read the noted articles about diseases that have morphed through globalization. Students then participate in classroom simulation that requires...
Curated OER
The Ottoman Empire
Learners recognize that the Ottoman Empire was at its grandest during the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent. They use a map to draw in the extent of and the details of the Ottoman Empire during hie reign. In addition, they prove the...
Curated OER
Which Way is Up? The Tree of Life in Africa
Students read a book titled This is the Tree about a baobab tree and draw a picture and label the tree. In this tree lesson plan, students also write a paragraph explaining why they drew that tree.
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
European Explorers
To compare how the Spanish, French, and English approached the exploration of North America, class groups examine primary source documents and become experts on one of four explorers: Francisco Coronado, Robert LaSalle, Samuel de...
Curated OER
The Odds of Dying During a Plague
Sixth graders explore plagues in the middle ages. In this social studies lesson, 6th graders examine the impact of deadly plagues on past societies and how the governments were forced to make drastic changes in response to the plagues
Curated OER
The Vikings
In this Vikings worksheet, students read about the Vikings and the Viking Age and then answer the 15 questions in the packet. The answers are on the last page.
Curated OER
Glory, God and Gold: Voyages and Adventures - America 1500
By providing an in-depth and interesting overview of European exploration in the New World, this presentation would be a wonderful complement to a unit on this topic. The 17 slide presentation is both thought-provoking and informative....
Curated OER
The Growth of Islam
Seventh graders gain insight into the daily lives of Muslims and to develop empathy for them by studying the Islamic world and creating presentations.
Curated OER
Explorers
In this explorers worksheet, students read a detailed text about the Age of Exploration from 1450 to 1700. Students then answer 7 matching or multiple choice questions.
Curated OER
Working Watermelon
You're going to wish you had a watermelon for this lesson! Class members read about watermelons and make a salad in class to sample. They also perform estimates, measurements and calculations on a watermelon. They predict what percentage...
Curated OER
English Vocabulary Skills: AWL Sublist 9 - Exercise 1c
In this online interactive English vocabulary skills worksheet, students answer 10 matching questions which require them to fill in the blanks in 10 sentences. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
World History People Review
Who's who in World History? Help your historians keep track of major figures with this World History People Review, where students match 96 world figures to the appropriate descriptions. The matching questions are grouped by historical...
Curated OER
The Phoenicians
In this Phoenicians activity, students read a 4-page selection about Phoenician culture and then respond to 2 short answer questions based on the selection.
Curated OER
Passages of Man and Word
Third graders explore transportation and written communication prior to the Renaissance.
Curated OER
Trekking to Timbuktu
Students view a television show to provide a context for conducting research into the location and culture of Timbuktu. The students complete a report on the subject in the form of a research paper.
Curated OER
Henry Hudson: 400th Anniversary of Discovery
Commemorate the discovery made by Henry Hudson and delve into the Age of Exploration.
Curated OER
Chapters 14 & 15 – Age of Exploration
In this U.S. history worksheet, students read assigned textbook pages regarding the Age of Exploration and respond to 49 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Columbian Contexts
Students explore geo-political and economic contexts for the European Renaissance journeys of exploration, including those of Columbus, create cartographic symbols, and add those symbols to a print-out of Ptolemy's map.
Digital History
Digital History: The Slave Trade [Pdf]
Read Olaudah Equiano's account of being captured in his village in Africa, and placed on a slave ship to be taken to America. He describes the middle passage of the triangular trade route, as well as the leg from Europe to Africa. [pdf]
Curated OER
Clip Art by Phillip Martin: Slave Trade Routes
A clipart illustration by Phillip Martin titled "Slave Trade Routes."